Ubuntu vs Windows XP, Default Fonts

Maybe it is because I have a laptop whose native resolution is 1920x1200 but whatever it is I prefer the default fonts used in Ubuntu over that of Windows XP.

I know some people want the Windows XP fonts otherwise Automatix would not have had a "msttcorefonts" option to install on Ubuntu.

For me personally the Windows XP fonts does not look as good on my laptop as the Ubuntu fonts especially when browsing the internet. I guess I could change the fonts manually on Windows XP, but out of the box I prefer Ubuntu over Windows XP when it comes to fonts.

Amarok Error

Today was the first day I used Parallels on my Ubuntu desktop and all of the sudden Amarok started acting up. When Amarok runs together with Parallels it seems my Ubuntu looses it 'DISPLAY', all my applications start up but none of them are visible.

After installing Listen music player again, it seems that my Ubuntu desktop is back to normal again with Parallels running. It is a pity because Amarok is a great music player, Listen unfortunately is just functional and that is it, no bells and whistles to this one.

Ubuntu vs Windows XP, VPN Access

Since I installed my ADSL connection, I am working from home two days of the week, which means I need VPN access to my office. Now I tried connection to my office using two different approaches in Ubuntu but I failed on both occasions.

The first approach was standard linux-pptp with a few scripts. I was successful to some extend, I did connect to my VPN and was able to browse the company network, but within a few seconds my connection to the VPN will close and I would have to reconnect to the VPN again.

So it was off to the drawing board again, this time I used the network-manager-gnome but again I would only connect for a few seconds to my VPN and then the connection would close. I did stumble across this section on the linux-pptp site, but I could not determine whether this was my problem.

The Windows XP approach was much better and easier. Given the company's VPN server is a Windows server and it is a Windows VPN it would make sense, but I would at least expected the VPN functionality on Ubuntu to be as easy and useful as the brilliant rDesktop but unfortunately it is not, and because of this whenever I work from home I am forced to boot into Windows to connect to my company's VPN.

Ubuntu vs Windows XP, Introduction

I recently had a chat with a friend of mine and he suggested since I am using both Ubuntu and Windows on a daily basis I should blog about the applications I find in useful and compare it to the equivalent application in Windows.

So every now and then I will post a blog about some GNU/Linux applications versus the Windows counterpart.